DIY Car Maintenance with function over finesse!!

[mickthemaverick]

Well I received the last parts I needed enabling me to complete the supply setup:

MTMO

and following that I was able to mock up the final test bed for the idea thereby putting you all, well both of you, out of your misery :

Spoiler: show

Unfortunately after a few tests the 300W strimmer motor was not at all happy so I am looking for a more powerful motor, but at least it proves the fundamental idea works!!

[MattBLancs]

With that hub, are you making a wheel balancer!?

Or some sort of flailing blade, the first mains powered Robot Wars entrant?

Spoiler: show

deactivate!

[mickthemaverick]

Not a balancer Matt no, that needs too much precision !!

[myglaren]

Sewing machine.

[mickthemaverick]

Anyone would think I'm trying to stitch you up!!

[moizeau]

Wood turning lathe?

[mickthemaverick]

That is my secondary objective Pete, not for anything fancy but just to be able to spin something for fun, but we are in the Car Maintenance thread and the prime objective is for that purpose!!

[moizeau]

but we are in the Car Maintenance thread and the prime objective is for that purpose!!

Ah yes.

Alternator checker then

[mickthemaverick]

Now that's an idea that hadn't come to mind, yes it could be adapted for that but not my prime objective!

[Skull]

I’m waiting for the postman to put me out of my misery ….

[Rp0thejester]

Is it a brake disc checker to see if there warped or not? Or belt tensioner tester?

[mickthemaverick]

Yes Ryan it is for brake disc checking and cleaning and run out testing. At least it will be when the final version is done. The strimmer motor is not up to the job but was good in proving the theory. I am on the lookout for a cheap more powerful motor at the moment, possibly from a washing machine or similar!

It may well get used for other jobs like tyre lining or general rotary maintenance of various sorts. My main issue is that it has to be easily assembled and dissassembled as I have to keep the garage clear for SWMBO's car!

[Rp0thejester]

I finally got to work on the car yesterday but gave up after a few hours. I managed to release one of the spring bolts from the turbo/exhaust joint with only minor scrapes, a sore back and the realisation that I'm not as slim as i used to be.

The second bolt however refused to play ball!! Not only was it in the most awkward place which I could only just get a hand to. It was loose, spinning and had a nyloc nut on it!! The main problem with this is that there was no access to the top of the bolt. So I gave up for the day thought about it and I decided to ordered a new toy....a reciprocating saw. It arrived today so I got straight to it, 2 hours of cutting through the spring to get to the bolt finally paid off.

Minor damage to my new saw which shows how tight the gap is to get to it.

The next step was relatively easy, replace the gasket

and defy gravity with a bolt that constantly moves whilst trying to slide a spring, backplate and screw a nut on the end. But both sides fitted, tightening up can wait till tomorrow.

[CitroJim]

Good work Ryan! Those can be a bit tricky... I made up a special bent spanner for V6 Xantia ones... I still have it but unlikely I'll ever need to use it for its intended purpose again but occasionally a bent spanner is useful for other difficult nuts...

[Rp0thejester]

Make sure you take that spanner with you on Tuesday incase Bobins starts playing up! I did think of trying something like that Jim but the bolt is recessed and with only a finger gap above it. To get that 1 bolt out it's either cut it off or lift and slide. I did the final tighting up this morning and now the exhaust fumes actually come out of the back of the car!! Replaced the brake light bulb, bought from Halfords, nearly had a panic attack as it still wasn't working, good job there was 2 in the box. Oh and to defy gravity I sellotaped the spring, washer and backplate together and carefully slide it on the bolt. I now reckon I can beat the kids at a game of Operation! Off to the test centre....